Zimbabwe transitions children from institutional to family-based care
via NewsDay Zimbabwe5 min read
Zimbabwe is implementing reforms to shift children without parental support from institutional care to family-based care. Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare deputy minister Mercy Dinha stated that out of approximately 7.1 million children in Zimbabwe, including 562,872 orphans, about 4,500 are in residential care and 660 in formal foster care. Over 95% of children without parental care are supported within extended families, highlighting the strength of traditional kinship systems. The country's alternative care system is based on Section 81 of the Constitution, which guarantees a child's right to family or parental care, and the Children’s Act, which recognizes the family as the primary environment for a child's wellbeing. Residential childcare institutions are intended for temporary care, with efforts focused on family reunification. The National Policy for the Care and Protection of Children Without Parental Care prioritizes family and community-based care. A joint initiative with SOS Children’s Villages is successfully reintegrating children into kinship and foster care. New admissions to institutions have been significantly reduced, and programs offering parenting support, counseling, foster care grants, and education assistance aim to prevent unnecessary family separations. Dinha emphasized that family-based care is more cost-effective than institutional care, leads to better developmental outcomes for children, and reduces long-term reliance on state support.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by NewsDay Zimbabwe.
Must ReadZimbabwe has only realized 3% of committed investments over a four-year period, with investors withholding billions after signing up, according to the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency Zida. This low realization rate indicates a significant gap between investment pledges and actual implementation within the country's economy.
Zimbabwe has only realized 3% of the billions of dollars pledged by investors over the past four years, according to the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency Zida. This low realization rate indicates that investors are withholding significant funds despite initial commitments. The country is also grappling with policy inconsistency and high input costs, which are weighing heavily on its industry. Industry and Commerce permanent secretary Tadeous Chifamba noted that authorities are working to strengthen the enforcement of local content policies. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe is initiating efforts to secure a US$25 million climate recovery boost. Other challenges include low prices for tobacco farmers, political tensions leading to violence and evictions in some areas, and a report indicating that only four African economies are structured for sustained industrial growth. The VFEX shows stability, but this masks underlying value issues. The country also faces a significant road safety crisis, with 17 dead and 33 injured in a recent coach crash on the Harare–Nyamapanda Highway, leading to a declared state of disaster.
Must ReadDespite being declared Zimbabwe's official gold-backed legal tender by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and the government, the ZiG currency encounters significant challenges in online transactions. While the state has implemented policies to promote its use, such as increasing transaction limits and mandating acceptance by government suppliers, the digital economy often treats ZiG cards as less functional than USD Visa and Mastercards. Online payment gateways, which are crucial for e-commerce, primarily optimize for USD transactions due to perceived revenue certainty and faster settlement times for merchants. Many local e-commerce operators do not configure ZiG card acceptance as a default, and merchants face opacity regarding ZiG settlement timelines, leading them to favor USD. Consumers also experience difficulties, as many ZiG-denominated cards require separate online activation, and some transactions are routed through unreliable USSD prompts. Furthermore, inconsistencies in enforcing the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe's 1.5% cap on POS charges and potential incorrect application of the 15% digital services withholding tax to local ZiG transactions add to the problem. This digital disparity is rooted in a trust deficit, as the ZiG currency experienced significant devaluation shortly after its launch, reinforcing a preference for stable foreign currencies and cash-based transactions among Zimbabweans. To address these issues, there is a call for greater transparency from the Reserv
Must ReadInvestors have withheld billions of dollars despite signing agreements in Zimbabwe, with the country achieving only a 3% realization rate over a four-year period, according to the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency ZIDA. This low realization rate highlights a significant gap between investment commitments and actual capital inflow into the Zimbabwean economy. The article also touches on various other economic and social issues in Zimbabwe, including the challenges faced by 'golden leaf' farmers due to low prices and high input costs, the impact of policy inconsistency and high costs on Zimbabwean industry, and the difficulties in selling the new ZiG currency. Other topics include political tensions leading to violence and evictions, the menace of 'makorokoza' artisanal miners affecting young girls, and the country's efforts to secure a US$25 million climate recovery boost. The report also notes that only four African economies are built for sustained industrial growth, and discusses how AI is revolutionizing pilot decision-making.